Day 8

Good morning! 

We have made it to the last day of the detox!  I hope you are feeling strong, empowered and clear this morning, with renewed energy and intention.    

I'd like to pass along a few tips that may be helpful as you move back into your everyday life.  Continue practicing consciousness around food, taking the time to notice how different foods make you feel.  We have eliminated foods that cause inflammation and poor digestion, so cutting down on all of these items is ideal. You could continue eating as you have been on the solid food days (or mostly that way) for as long as you’d like, and you’ll deepen the benefits you’re experiencing now: easy, pain-free digestion, balanced moods, glowing skin, reduced bloat and gas, mental clarity and increased energy.

As you add the eliminated items back, take advantage of the clean slate you've created, and try to do so one by one. This is a good way to test your sensitivity to gluten, dairy, soy, refined sugar and meat.  Testing each in the diet individually, and in moderate amount, will help you take note of anything that negatively impacts your digestion or mood.  Resist the urge to eat them all in one meal. 

If you celebrate with enchiladas and margaritas tomorrow, you will feel sick, and you won't know whether it was the grease, dairy, gluten or alcohol that contributed most to your digestive woes.  If you eat something like a chocolate pastry, you may not feel sick, but you could see inflammation under the skin return and wonder if it is the sugar, gluten or butter to blame.  Even a simple steak tomorrow will be too acidic for your body in this state and will cause inflammation.

Here is the best way to go back to the non-detox foods, assuming you want to add all of them back, whenever you are ready:

You can begin with pastured, organic eggs alongside vegetables (try to avoid combining grains and proteins whenever possible).  Wait two days and incorporate whole wheat. If you notice headaches, bloat, eczema, or unpleasant emotional states after eating gluten, it is smart to be tested for intolerance.  

 Whole grains will stabilize your mood and keep your digestive system in a calmer state, but whole wheat, which contains gluten, may weigh you down more than gluten-free grains.  If you do pick up freshly baked whole wheat bread, be sure you are choosing real whole wheat rather than the soft, refined white bread with a few wheat germs added.  There is a sprouted grain bread brand called Ezekiel that is a good choice for sandwiches and toast. The grains are soaked, which makes them sprout, essentially pre-digesting them so you are not depleting so much of your own digestive energy.  Freshly baked sourdough bread has a lower glycemic index than whole wheat, but it also has less fiber.  Give all 3 a try and see how you feel.

Wait two days, then try a small amount of high-quality meat. If you have access to meat from a local farm (from the farmer’s market or an actual farm if you’re in a rural area), this is the way to go. The extra cost of meat or eggs from a local farm is well worth it. It is the hormones, antibiotics, mercury and other junk that seeps into the majority of meat and fish that create sludge, excess fat, and eventually disease in the body. 

From an Ayurvedic perspective, meat should really only be eaten in cases of Vata related weakness, and it is typically a bone broth that is advised. It should be eaten midday instead of at night, and the portion should be very small, 1-2 times per month. Meat is not a sattvic food in Ayurveda, and it does not help to bring a balanced, clear mind needed to meditate productively. Fish is not designated a better protein in Ayurveda. The best fish would be a freshwater local fish such as trout or ocean fish caught from a local fisherman if you’re on the coast.  Commercial fishing has become an enormous global issue that is not sustainable, so the best bet is to reduce or eliminate fish caught in the ocean and sold in grocery stores, wild or farmed. 

Wait another two days, then add a high-quality dairy product. Try sheep (feta) or goat cheese first, and cow’s dairy another day. Ideally, you’d stick with sheep or goat cheese when moving back to dairy.  Use either coconut oil, ghee or real butter but not margarine or other low fat dairy substitutes.  

Again, wait two days before reintroducing sugar, though I would recommend that you avoid sugar altogether (or as often as possible), as it is the most addictive, slippery slope.

Coffee has a high caffeine content which disrupts the adrenal system and causes the body to rely on external sources of energy.  Still, the ritual of coffee is important to many. Try to choose a high quality bean, avoid adding sugar and dairy and limit consumption to 1 cup per day. Most importantly, have lemon water beforehand so that the acidity of the coffee does not negatively affect your body as much. 

 Adding alcohol and fried, rich foods back to the diet right away after the cleanse will shock your body, so it is best to wait several days before consuming either.  If you can go an entire two weeks without alcohol, your hormonal balance will be much improved. 

 Continue to approach eating from a mindful place of self-care, and when you begin a week-long cleanse again, do so just as we have.  You need to give your body ample opportunity to release toxins slowly.  Don’t dive right into a juice fast from an unhealthy eating regimen or quickly right back to processed food and alcohol from a cleanse.  

 Assuming you are adding gluten, dairy and meat back into the diet, here is one idea for a solid food meal plan with proper food combinations following the detox:

 Early AM - herbal tea and/or 16 oz warm lemon water. Try not to leave the house without drinking water.  

 Breakfast - green smoothie, 1 cup oatmeal with real maple syrup, a bowl of fresh cut fruit or even kitchari.  Pay attention to the season and choose warming foods when it’s cold and cooler foods when it’s warm. 

 Mid-morning, when hungry - fresh fruit in season

 Lunch - salad, veggie soup, veggie chili, brown rice with roasted vegetables, avocado and cucumber brown rice sushi, quinoa/sweet potato/swiss chard medley or beet/cilantro/greens and quinoa. 

 Mid-afternoon, when hungry – vegetables and all-natural hummus (without preservatives), a handful of raw nuts, almond butter and celery.

 Dinner – Vegetable curry, green bean and zucchini stir fry with rice, adzuki bean miso soup with greens, or spaghetti squash with fresh tomatoes, garlic and fresh basil. Avoid fake vegan meats (Beyond Burgers, Impossible Burgers) completely. 

Your body is now cleaner and able to function more efficiently.  As long as you go back to the non-detox foods mindfully and apply what you learn about your body's own sensitivities, you should see the results of the cleanse continue - a lighter body, excess weight reduction, clearer mind, brighter skin, less bloat and gas, less body odor, and more balanced emotions. 

 Keep up as many of the practices as you've enjoyed, and the results will only deepen.  If you fall off the wagon, remember how easy it is to get right back on it.  You'll know where to start and in a matter of days, you'll feel better.  If you follow this cleanse seasonally, your body will shift into the "feel good" phase much quicker (it will no longer take 6 days, it will take 1-2) and eventually, your immune system will be strong enough to fight off colds and common infections before they even begin. 

 It is truly an honor to serve you in this way – thank you for trusting me and trusting yourself in this process.  

Please stay in touch and follow us on Instagram @ayurvedicyogadetox for new happenings. 

Congratulations on all of your hard work, you did it! 

Warmly,

Lauren